Tsunami

Confirm it IS the 12th July, 2014

It still depends on how you take the tarpaulins off when there is pools of rain on them, or so I am told.

The track did play a major part of the meeting, and it was disappointing given the improvement there has been in the made tracks at Cardiff in the last 3 to 4 years. One has come to expect it getting better year on year, but it didn't happen this year. Heard from a few officials involved and the story is very consistent. Usual shale under tarpaulins, and a lot of rain collected on the top of them. Tarpaulins removed, but pool of rain goes into the shale instead of being drained off. Track laid, but too high a water content so a lot of lime is mixed in, track relayed, but lime does not work as planned. Rollers used to compress it, but after the practice was delayed for an hour, the riders ride and the riders were not impressed with it, AJ crashing heavily into airfence coming out of the forth bend. Practice cancelled and track dug up and relayed over night in time for the revised practice at 10pm. Meeting was always going to be on, as they had all the time till 5pm to do anything that needed further to be done. Serious error in materials control, which i imagine will not be allowed to happen again. Did it spoil the meeting. Well it did affect the meeting, but it can't be said it was truly dangerous and unrideble, but care needed to be exercised to keep off certain lines, especially the inner metre going into the first bend. Never a good sign seeing small sand large road rollers, when they are only there to build the track not to prepare the track either before or during the meeting. There really is no right answer to the Lindgren/Tai crash. In real time it looked certain that Tai had picked up grip and drove into Nicki. Replay showed that Freddie steamed in, and Tai only lifted when Freddie appeared to give him a little push. Either Exclusion was going to be wrong or right in peoples minds, but Vaculik should be commended for seeing what was going to happen, and doing an early off to limit the damage that was going to happen. He was never going to be excluded for his evasive actions. Very unfortunate now that the battle of the youngsters is not now an event with both Darcy and Tai now out for some time out. Thank goodness for Emil, who was not noticeable during the meeting, but came good at the end. Shame about Nicki who seems to now be considering have time out to allow his body to heal before making a return in a months time. Now got a sprained wrist, on top of his broken arm, and it was no wonder the tough guy had to quit during his last race when he found he just could not carry on. Tai it would seem has not just broken collarbone but a shattered shoulder blade, presumably when the bike hit him when he was against the fence, and is now to go under surgery either today or tomorrow. Anybody thinking Tai seems to be targeting NIcki in recent crashes is obviously looney, and will probably be voting for Scotland to leave the union in the future referendum. On the numbers, it did look like a reasonable increase this year with many more people in the upper stands on the back straight , but a few less in the mid tiers on the 3/4th bends. Overall, the weekend was good, with decent weather, good company, OK meeting, and the usual magic which is there every Cardiff GP. Be there again next year, when for sure the track, will be the best it has been. I am sure of that. Looking forward to seeing the recording tomorrow, to see what the stop at homes saw on the night.

Done that, good CV and good presentation but virtually nothing came out of it.

Been tried a few times Matt, and never really came up with anything except big bills.

BSPA highlight the new average, and you say it is their fault as Redcar Fan doesn't read it.

Don't worry TWK, Lindgren was NOT fined, and freddi5toes even has the amount wrong.

What fine or can't you read. Or as normal people would understand - Rule 1 unless Rule 2 takes precedent. Solved.

As long as we see some awesome racing like the rest of our meetings have been. Conditions will be good so hoping for an interesting meeting. There will be an organised second half which is Round 2 of the Northern Open Championship in the NDL Riders are Danny Phillips, Ryan MacDonald, John MacPhail, Liam Carr, Alex Wilson, Kevan Keay, Robert ShuttleWorth, and Callum Harris. Should be worth watching, stay behind and support the youngsters.

Would love to be with you all Jack, but will be at Brough with the training school. I would recommend to anyone, a visit to Cramlington for the Cycle Speedway. It's only about 9 miles away from Brough and is a very exciting sport. Good luck lads.

You are correct in the history of the D/U positions. It was devised to give British riders the opportunity to stay and rode meetings at home, rather than have to ride abroad for extra income. In addition, it also allowed up and coming riders to dabble with the higher league to give them senior experience and to test their ability against higher riders. Unfortuately, rider shortage is such that there is not enough riders around to maintain that situation and the D/U arrangement has been extended to foreign riders. Back on subject In summary Meeting agreed in April with both clubs and Tuesdays and Swedes were noted. Swedish League hadn't started and both teams were in D/D situations in Sweden so alternatives for their Swedish teams. Lingren does well in both countries and rides more than his partner Robin doesn't and then, I am told, has been dropped. Federation agreements in place that correctly say original fixtures published have priority over rescheduled meetings. Because of his form, Ludvig's team make him ride and Robin is now free to ride for Bandits. R/R is already in place for Newcastle's Tully, and a guest requested but SCB say no, 3 point junior must ride in place. There is precedent of this arrangement in the past but request is still refused. 2 Newcastle promoters not happy, naturally, and threaten to pull out of the meeting. Newcastle ride the team they are told to ride, but BSPA fine them for an understrength team(which won on the night of course, away from home) Boobs. Lindgren NOT fined for non appearance, as he was obeying agreed Federation agreements which has seniority over home rearrangements. Newcastle win an exceptional meeting, fully boyed up by what had happened, and Starke's inappropriate action. Newcastle appeal against the SCB fine. No D/U rules broken. End of, and note no posters were lost during the waste of two discussion days. At no time does SCB mean the original poster of this thread.

The most sensible post on the thread. Nevermind, that's two days some folks won't get back.

Ludvig would have rode for us if he could have, He couldn't. You work it out.

That's the rules, Yes. Originally there appeared to be a trade off with Swedes on both sides, but it didn't happen. There is precedent of a guest being allowed in exceptional circumstances, but in case it was NO. As you say, it was probably a better meeting for racing and excitement without Ludvig, but it didn't seem like that on the night before the meeting started.

That was exactly the situation screm, but unfortunately others want to be the clever lad with the rules. We couldn't get out of it and we were penalised having to put a 3 pointer in instead of Ludvig. No rules broken at all.

BWitcher and TheReturn My sarcastic response is because SCB is well aware of the real situation, but once again wants to be the clever sod with rules. There are no rules being ignored, but other things in the process to deal with cases such as Ludvig's situation.

Yes and probably quote rules in full and not tampered with like some.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

So what happened about the priority rule for rearranged fixtures. Oh, you forgot about that, or conveniently didn't mention it.

Great to read that, and a splendid and honest message to send out to all those involved. Must admit it was one of the best meetings/events that I have attended in speedway and that was largely down to the Berwick management team and their helpers. Wouldn't it be great to have one of these meetings every year in the North East and it be held in the carnival spirit that Tuesdays meeting experienced. There will be no wiping this meeting off the SKY box.

Just SCB talking sh!t again.

Pity you missed out the word 'illegally under-strength'. Now back to the praise for Berwick rather than your posturing.

Great night last night for everyone and nice to see a biggish crowd in attendance. The Berwick promotion did everything right last night with good signage, publicity, fans involvement, excellent programme change the best they have produced Dennis Mc, even bringing back Dick was a success and fitted in and fortunately subdued for the cameras, good cover for the sponsors and nice to see NEW HOLLAND splattered around especially on those brand new tractors doing an excellent job on the track. Must congratulate the 2 tractor drivers using two wonderwheels (there's a first) on producing an excellent track with good grip around the outside, which they maintained all night. A lot of curators just rough the surface up for grip but they skimmed it everytime resulting in a very fine layer across 3/4 of the track, and it was remarkably good and consistent for all of the meeting. Top strip, and as others have said, why just for tonight. As soon as I entered the stadium I said this is going to suit us, gaters who can race, and so it proved . The first heat 1-5 was a surprise, as was the reverse in heat 2, and I then though maybe Lewis was hurting and we were going to miss his surprise scores that we have got used to. No need to worry as he turned in a brilliant score, which could have been even more if his grip wires hadn't snapped and he trained in last. His wrist was very sore at the end of the meeting but, with KL off tonight, he has a rest till Saturday guesting at Worky. Think SKY got full value, with the quality of the meeting, and also the racing and result, and it is great to hear a lot of positive comments on here about the meeting and the recognition of good PL racing. The efforts of the promotion were greatly applauded, and I agree with HalifaxTiger, that this promotion has increased it's act, in the few years they have been in business, more than any other track. Pity about the make up of the teams though, which was NO reflection on the 2 clubs involved. George English, and the Newcastle promotion, would NOT have agreed to this fixture unless an arrangement had not been made for us to field a full team. It would have been unfair to the fans, and it also threatened to halt our expectations of a result, on our pursuit to try and go for the PL title. To insinuate on here that George slipped up, and went with a weaken team just for the sake of SKY, is laughable. SVEMO, and the two clubs involved, would not have guaranteed both Swedes to ride, therefore some compromise must have been made to tempt us to stay with the fixture. Thing was we did, but then see Robin take his place in the Berwick lineup, no Luddi for us but balanced up by FIM banning Bellego from riding, but then unbelievably Berwick getting R/R for his absence and us no facility for Luddi. Crazy world with too many cooks, and unqualified expert critics me thinks. Given the result and especially the quality of everything about the meeting, I was very pleased that the 2 non MC members of the Newcastle promotion did not pull the plug on Newcastle's presence in the meeting. Berwick had a lot to celebrate last night and take a lot of credit in celebration of their efforts to make this meeting such a great success. Yes they lost, but quite frankly with the return of Ricky, and some form from Robin(4 points last night and I said the result depended on him) Berwick will be fine, and I would recommend anybody to visit to their track, and also visit to Robert Smith's chippy after the meeting. A great night out. Hardly that John. Andrew has been seeking and getting Hyperbaric treatment, and has just returned from the warmer climate in Turkey, in an attempt to shorten the healing process time. Incidentally, Andrew was there last night cheering on the lads, and Berwick even imported warm weather for him. First time ever I have had to take my coat off, cos it was too warm at Berwick.

And not an official meeting that counted. Which it was, his 'crime' was staying down to get the race stopped. Clearly not injured or trapped.

Yes. In his crash with DEEK on the third bend in an early friendly I think.. Ooooops.